Chapter 6: Upgrading WordPress

In This Chapter

  • Finding upgrades notifications
  • Backing up your database before upgrading
  • Deactivating plugins
  • Upgrading from the dashboard
  • Upgrading manually

In Book I, Chapter 3, the schedule of WordPress development and release cycles shows you that WordPress releases a new version (upgrade) of its platform roughly once every 120 days (or every 4 months). That chapter also explains why you need to keep your WordPress software up-to-date by using the most recent version for security purposes, mostly, but also to make sure you're taking advantage of all the latest features the WordPress developers pack within every major new release.

In this chapter, you discover the WordPress upgrade notification system and find out what to do when WordPress notifies you that a new version is available. This chapter also covers the best practices to upgrade the WordPress platform on your site to ensure the best possible outcome (that is, how not to break your Web site after a WordPress upgrade).

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